Integrated circuit device including a plurality of integrated circuits and its application to panel display device

ABSTRACT

An integrated circuit device includes first and second integrated circuits and a power supply line. The first integrated circuit includes a first power supply circuit, a timing generation circuit generating a synchronization signal, and a first power supply control section. The second integrated circuit includes a second power supply circuit and a second power supply control section. The power supply line electrically connects the outputs of the first and second power supply circuit. The first and second power supply control sections are each configured to start the operations of the first and second power supply circuits, respectively, in response to a start of a supply of the synchronization signal after a sleep-out command is supplied thereto. The timing generation circuit starts supplying the synchronization signal after a predetermined waiting time elapses after the sleep-out command is supplied to the first integrated circuit.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No.2012-268290, filed on Dec. 7, 2012, the disclosure which is incorporatedherein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an integrated circuit device, anintegrated circuit, a panel display device and a display panel driver,and more particularly relates to optimization of the activationprocedure of power supply circuits in an integrated circuit device inwhich outputs of the power supply circuits integrated in integratedcircuits are electrically connected to each other.

BACKGROUND ART

In an integrated circuit device which includes a plurality of integratedcircuits, the difference in the power supply voltage level between theintegrated circuits may cause a problem. To address this, the outputs ofthe power supply circuits integrated in the integrated circuits areoften electrically connected to each other. In the case that a displaypanel (for example, a liquid crystal display panel) is driven by aplurality of driver ICs, for example, a difference may be generatedbetween images displayed in the portions driven by the different driverICs in the display panel, if the boosted power supply voltages generatedby boosting power supplies of the driver ICs are different. One approachto solve this problem is to connect the outputs of the boosting powersupplies in the driver ICs to a common power supply line for generatingthe same boosting power supply voltage in the plurality of driver ICs.The boosting power supply voltage thus generated is used to drive thedisplay panel.

One possible problem is that, in the configuration in which the outputsof the power supply circuits integrated in the integrated circuits areelectrically connected to each other, an overcurrent may be generateddepending on the configurations and operations of the power supplycircuits, when the plurality of power supply circuits are activated atdifferent timings. Such a problem is the case with a configuration inwhich the outputs of the two power supply circuits are electricallyconnected to each other through the power supply line, each of the twopower supply circuits having the output connected to ground when theoperation thereof is stopped. More specifically, when one of the powersupply circuits is already activated and the other of the power supplycircuits is not activated yet, an overcurrent may flow to ground fromthe power supply line in the other power supply circuit. The generationof the overcurrent is desired to be avoided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to suppress generationof an overcurrent in an integrated circuit device in which the outputsof power supply circuits within integrated circuits are electricallyconnected to each other.

In an aspect of the present invention, an integrated circuit deviceincludes first and second integrated circuits and a power supply line.The first integrated circuit includes: a first power supply circuit; atiming generation circuit generating a synchronization signal; and afirst power supply control section controlling operation timing of thefirst power supply circuit. The second integrated circuit includes: asecond power supply circuit; and a second power supply control sectioncontrolling operation timing of the second power supply circuit. Thepower supply line electrically connects outputs of the first and secondpower supply circuit. The first and second integrated circuits areadapted to a sleep mode. The operation of the first power supply circuitis stopped when the first integrated circuit is placed into the sleepmode and the operation of the second power supply circuit is stoppedwhen the second integrated circuit is placed into the sleep mode. Thesynchronization signal is supplied to the first and second power supplycontrol sections. The first power supply control section is configuredto start the operation of the first power supply circuit in response toa start of a supply of the synchronization signal after a firstsleep-out command to get out of the sleep mode is supplied to the firstintegrated circuit. The second power supply control section isconfigured to start the operation of the second power supply circuit inresponse to a start of a supply of the synchronization signal after asecond sleep-out command to get out of the sleep mode is supplied to thesecond integrated circuit. The timing generation circuit startssupplying the synchronization signal after a predetermined waiting timeelapses after the first sleep-out command is supplied to the firstintegrated circuit.

In one embodiment, the first power supply circuit includes a firstoutput switch which connects the output of the first power supplycircuit to a ground terminal when the operation of the first powersupply circuit is stopped, and the second power supply circuit includesa second output switch which connects the output of the second powersupply circuit to a ground terminal when the operation of the secondpower supply circuit is stopped.

In another aspect of the present invention, an integrated circuit isadapted to a sleep mode. The integrated circuit includes a power supplycircuit, a timing generation circuit generating a synchronizationsignal, and a power supply control section controlling operation timingof the power supply circuit. The operation of the power supply circuitis stopped when the integrated circuit is placed into the sleep mode.The power supply control section is configured to start the operation ofthe power supply circuit in response to a start of a supply of thesynchronization signal after a sleep-out command to get out of the sleepmode is supplied to the integrated circuit. The timing generationcircuit starts supplying the synchronization signal after apredetermined waiting time elapses after the sleep-out command issupplied to the integrated circuit.

In still another aspect of the present invention, a panel display deviceincludes a display panel, first and second drivers driving the displaypanel and a power supply line. The first driver includes a first powersupply circuit, a timing generation circuit generating a verticalsynchronization signal and a first power supply control sectioncontrolling operation timing of the first power supply circuit. Thesecond driver includes a second power supply circuit and a second powersupply control section controlling operation timing of the second powersupply circuit. The power supply line electrically connects outputs ofthe first and second power supply circuits. The first and second driversare adapted to a sleep mode. The operation of the first power supplycircuit is stopped when the first driver is placed into the sleep mode,and the operation of the second power supply circuit is stopped when thesecond driver is placed into the sleep mode. The verticalsynchronization signal is supplied to the first and second power supplycontrol sections. The first power supply control section is configuredto start the operation of the first power supply circuit in response toa start of a supply of the vertical synchronization signal after a firstsleep-out command to get out of the sleep mode is supplied to the firstdriver. The second power supply control section is configured to startthe operation of the second power supply circuit in response to a startof a supply of the vertical synchronization signal after a secondsleep-out command to get out of the sleep mode is supplied to the seconddriver. The timing generation circuit starts supplying thesynchronization signal after a predetermined waiting time elapses afterthe first sleep-out command is supplied to the first driver.

In one embodiment, the time duration of the predetermined waiting timeis equal to or longer than the time duration of one frame period definedas a cycle period of the vertical synchronization signal.

In one embodiment, the first driver includes a first driving circuitoperating on a first power supply voltage outputted from the first powersupply circuit to drive the display panel, and the second driverincludes a second driving circuit operating on a second power supplyvoltage outputted from the second power supply circuit to drive thedisplay panel.

In still another aspect of the present invention, a display panel driveris configured to drive a display panel and adapted to a sleep mode. Thedisplay panel driver includes a power supply circuit, a timinggeneration circuit generating a vertical synchronization signal and apower supply control section controlling operation timing of the powersupply circuit. The operation of the power supply circuit is stoppedwhen the display panel driver is placed into the sleep mode. Thevertical synchronization signal is supplied to the power supply controlsection. The power supply control section is configured to start theoperation of the power supply circuit in response to a start of a supplyof the vertical synchronization signal after a sleep-out command to getout of the sleep mode is supplied to the display panel driver. Thetiming generation circuit starts supplying the synchronization signalafter a predetermined waiting time elapses after the sleep-out commandis supplied to the display panel driver.

The present invention effectively suppresses generation of anovercurrent in an integrated circuit device in which the outputs ofpower supply circuits within integrated circuits are electricallyconnected to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of aliquid crystal display device, which is one example of an integratedcircuit device which includes a plurality of integrated circuits whereoutputs of power supply circuits are electrically connected to eachother;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration ofdriver ICs of the liquid crystal display device in FIG. 1, especially,an exemplary configuration of a liquid-crystal-driving power supplycircuit;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating the state of the driver ICs inFIG. 2 when the liquid-crystal-driving power supply circuit is inoperation;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating a generation of an overcurrentin the driver ICs in FIG. 2, in the case when the liquid-crystal-drivingpower supply circuit in one driver IC is activated and theliquid-crystal-driving power supply circuit in the other driver IC isnot activated yet;

FIG. 5 is a timing chart illustrating an operational sequence of theliquid crystal display device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the casewhen the two driver ICs get out of the sleep mode;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary configurations of aliquid crystal display device, which operates as an integrated circuitdevice in one embodiment of the present invention and the driver ICsinstalled in the liquid crystal display device;

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration ofthe liquid-crystal-driving power supply circuit integrated in the driverIC illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a timing chart illustrating exemplary operations of therespective driver ICs in the case when the timing when a sleep-outcommand is supplied to a master driver is earlier than the timing when asleep-out command is supplied to a slave driver; and

FIG. 9 is a timing chart illustrating exemplary operations of therespective driver ICs in the case when the timing when the sleep-outcommand is supplied to the master driver is later than the timing whenthe sleep-out command is supplied to the slave driver.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For easy understanding of a technical concept of the present invention,a description is first given of a problem which potentially occurs inthe case when the outputs of power supply circuits integrated inmultiple integrated circuits are electrically connected to each other.

FIG. 1 shows an example of an integrated circuit device which includes aplurality of integrated circuits where the outputs of power supplycircuits are electrically connected to each other. The integratedcircuit device illustrated in FIG. 1 is configured as a liquid crystaldisplay device and includes an application processor 101, and an LCDpanel 102 and two driver ICs 104-1 and 104-2. The application processor101 supplies image data and control commands to the driver ICs 104-1 and104-2. The driver ICs 104-1 and 104-2 drive the gate lines and datalines arranged in the display region 103 of the LCD panel 102 inresponse to the image data and control commands received from theapplication processor 101.

In such an integrated circuit device, the outputs of the power supplycircuits integrated in the driver ICs 104-1 and 104-2 are oftenelectrically connected to each other. FIG. 2 shows an example of theconfiguration of the driver ICs 104-1 and 104-2 thus configured. Each ofthe driver ICs 104-1 and 104-2 includes a liquid-crystal-driving powersupply circuit 105. The liquid-crystal-driving power supply circuit 105has the function of generating power supply voltages GVDD and GVSS.Here, the power supply voltages GVDD and GVSS are the voltages used asthe “high” level and “low” level, respectively, in driving the gatelines of the LCD panel 102.

The liquid-crystal-driving power supply circuit 105 includes a boostingcircuit 111, a GVDD generating circuit 112 and a GVSS generating circuit113. The boosting circuit 111 boosts an inner power supply voltage byusing externally-connected capacitors 131 to 134 to thereby generatevoltages VGH and VGL. Here, the voltage VGL is a negative voltage.

The GVDD generating circuit 112 includes an amplifier 114, a variableresistor element 115, a resistor element 116 and an output switch 117.The amplifier 114 receives the voltage VGH and compares the voltage ofthe connection node between the variable resistor element 115 and theresistor element 116 with a referential voltage V_(REF1). As a result, apower supply voltage GVDD is outputted from the output of the amplifier114. The output switch 117 is connected between the output of theamplifier 114 and a ground terminal. Here, the outputs of the amplifiers114 in the driver ICs 104-1 and 104-2, namely, the outputs of the GVDDgenerating circuits 112 are electrically connected to each other via aGVDD power supply line 106. A power supply capacitor 108 is connected tothe GVDD power supply line 106.

Similarly, the GVSS generating circuit 113 includes an amplifier 118, avariable resistor element 119, a resistor element 120 and an outputswitch 121. The amplifier 118 receives the voltage VGL and compares thevoltage of the connection node between the variable resistor element 119and the resistor element 120 with a referential voltage V_(REF2). As aresult, a power supply voltage GVSS is outputted from an output of theamplifier 118. The output switch 121 is connected between the output ofthe amplifier 118 and the ground terminal. Here, the outputs of theamplifiers 118 in the driver ICs 104-1 and 104-2, namely, the outputs ofthe GVSS generating circuits 113 are electrically connected to eachother via a GVSS power supply line 107. A power supply capacitor 109 isconnected to the GVSS power supply line 107.

When the operations of the liquid-crystal-driving power supply circuits105 of both of the driver ICs 104-1 and 104-2 are stopped (for example,when the driver ICs 104-1 and 104-2 are placed into a sleep mode), theboosting circuits 111 are stopped and the outputs of the amplifiers 114and 118 are set to a Hi-Z (high impedance) state. In addition, theoutput switches 117 and 121 are turned on in both of the driver ICs104-1 and 104-2, and thereby the GVDD power supply line 106 and the GVSSpower supply line 107 are grounded. Such operations are intended toavoid the potentials of the GVDD power supply line 106 and the GVSSpower supply line 107 being varied when the operations of theliquid-crystal-driving power supply circuits 105 are stopped.

On the other hand, when the liquid-crystal-driving power supply circuits105 of the driver ICs 104-1 and 104-2 are both in operation, asillustrated in FIG. 3, the boosting circuits 111 supply the voltages VGHand VGL to the amplifiers 114 and 118. In addition, the amplifiers 114and 118 are operated on the voltages VGH and VGL to output the powersupply voltages GVDD and GVSS. The power supply voltage GVDD isgenerated on the GVDD power supply line 106, and the power supplyvoltage GVSS is generated on the GVSS power supply line 107. In thisoperation, the output switches 117 and 121 are turned off.

In the following, a consideration is given of the case when theliquid-crystal-driving power supply circuit 105 in the driver IC 104-1is activated earlier than the liquid-crystal-driving power supplycircuit 105 in the driver IC 104-2 in the integrated circuit device thusconfigured. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the power supplyvoltages GVDD and GVSS are outputted by the GVDD generating circuit 112and the GVSS generating circuit 113 in the driver IC 104-1,respectively. On the other hand, the output switches 117 and 121 arekept turned on in the GVDD generating circuit 112 and the GVSSgenerating circuit 113 in the driver IC 104-2. This results in formationof the routes through which currents flow from the GVDD generatingcircuit 112 and the GVSS generating circuit 113 to the ground terminalin the driver IC 104-1, which causes generation of overcurrents.

The situation in which the liquid-crystal-driving power supply circuit105 in the driver IC 104-1 is activated earlier than theliquid-crystal-driving power supply circuit 105 in the driver IC 104-2may occur, for example, when the liquid crystal display device isconfigured such that the driver ICs 104-1 and 104-2 are controlled bycommands issued by the application processor 101. In a systemconfiguration in which the driver ICs 104-1 and 104-2 are configured toget out of the sleep mode when receiving sleep-out commands (that is,commands to get out of the sleep mode) from the application processor101, the timings when the sleep-pout commands are supplied to the driverICs 104-1 and 104-2 may be different due to the influence of aninterruption in the application processor 101 or the like. Suchsituation may occur, for example, when the driver ICs 104-1 and 104-2are connected to the application processor 101 by communications basedon the MIPI-DSI standard (note that, a conventional technique in whichdata are transferred by communications based on the MIPI-DSI standardfrom a processor (host device) to a plurality of devices is disclosedin, for example, JP 2012-150152A). In this case, the timings when theactivation procedures of the liquid-crystal-driving power supplycircuits 105 are started in the driver ICs 104-1 and 104-2 may bedifferent during the process of getting out of the sleep mode.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the sequence in which the driver ICs 104-1and 104-2 get out of the sleep mode. In this example, it is assumedthat, when each of the driver ICs 104-1 and 104-2 receive a command toget out of the sleep mode (that is, a sleep-out command), supplies of areferential clock signal RCLK, a horizontal synchronization signal HSYNCand a vertical synchronization signal VSYNC are started within each ofthe driver ICs 104-1 and 104-2, and an activation of theliquid-crystal-driving power supply circuit 105 is started insynchronization with the first pulse of the vertical synchronizationsignal VSYNC.

First, a reset pulse 151 is supplied to the driver ICs 104-1 and 104-2over a reset signal RESX. This is followed by supplying sleep-outcommands 152-1 and 152-2 to the driver ICs 104-1 and 104-2,respectively. Here, a consideration is given of the case when thesleep-out command 152-2 is supplied later than the sleep-out command152-1. In this case, if the sleep-out command 152-2 is supplied to thedriver IC 104-2 after the generation of the first pulse of the verticalsynchronization signal VSYNC in the driver IC 104-1, theliquid-crystal-driving power supply circuit 105 in the driver IC 104-1is activated earlier than the liquid-crystal-driving power supplycircuit 105 in the driver IC 104-2. As discussed above, when theliquid-crystal-driving power supply circuit 105 in the driver IC 104-1is activated earlier than the liquid-crystal-driving power supplycircuit 105 in the driver IC 104-2, the routes through which thecurrents flow from the GVDD generating circuit 112 and the GVSSgenerating circuit 113 to the ground terminal in the driver IC 104-1 areformed. This results in generation of overcurrents.

In embodiments of the present invention described below, a technicalapproach is provided which suppresses the generation of an overcurrentin an integrated circuit device in which the outputs of power supplycircuits integrated in a plurality of integrated circuits areelectrically connected to each other.

FIG. 6 is the block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration ofan integrated circuit device in one embodiment of the present invention.The integrated circuit device in FIG. 6 is configured as a liquidcrystal display device and includes an application processor 1, an LCDpanel 2 and driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2. The application processor 1 suppliesimage data and control commands to the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2. Thedriver ICs 4-1 and 4-2 drive the gate lines and data lines of a displayregion 3 in the LCD panel 2 in response to the image data and controlcommands received from the application processor 1.

In this embodiment, the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2 are configured with thesame configuration. The driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2 each include an interfacecircuit 41, a register circuit 42, an oscillation circuit 43, a timinggeneration circuit 44, a power supply activation sequencer 45, aliquid-crystal-driving power supply circuit 46 and a liquid crystaldriving circuit 47.

The interface circuit 41 receives commands from the driver ICs 4-1 and4-2 and transfers the received commands to the register circuit 42. Theregister circuit 42 stores the received commands and further transfersthe commands to the timing generation circuit 44, the power supplyactivation sequencer 45 and the liquid-crystal-driving power supplycircuit 46. The oscillation circuit 43 generates a clock signal used forgeneration of a referential clock signal RCLK, a horizontalsynchronization signal HSYNC and the vertical synchronization signalVSYNC.

The timing generation circuit 44 generates the referential clock signalRCLK, the horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC and the verticalsynchronization signal VSYNC from the clock signal supplied by theoscillation circuit 43. Here, as is known to the person skilled in theart, the horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC defines the horizontalsynchronization period, and the vertical synchronization signal VSYNCdefines the frame period (or the vertical synchronization period). Indetail, the timing generation circuit 44 includes a timing counter 44 aand a mask circuit 44 b. The timing counter 44 a counts the pulses ofthe clock signal supplied from the oscillation circuit 43 toconsequently generate the referential clock signal RCLK and thehorizontal synchronization signal HSYNC. The mask circuit 44 b masks apart of a waveform of the horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC toconsequently generate the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC.

The power supply activation sequencer 45 is responsive to commandsreceived from the register circuit 42, the referential clock signalRCLK, the horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC and the verticalsynchronization signal VSYNC for generating a timing control signal 45 awhich controls the operation timing of the liquid-crystal-driving powersupply circuit 46. In this embodiment, the power supply activationsequencer 45 is configured to start the activation of theliquid-crystal-driving power supply circuit 46 in synchronization withthe start of the supply of the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC(that is, in synchronization with the first pulse) after receiving asleep-out command from the register circuit 42.

The liquid-crystal-driving power supply circuit 46 generates variouspower supply voltages used in the driver ICs 4-1 or 4-2. The powersupply voltages generated by the liquid-crystal-driving power supplycircuit 46 include the power supply voltages GVDD and GVSS used in theliquid crystal driving circuit 47. Here, the power supply voltages GVDDand GVSS are the voltages used as the “high” level and the “low” level,respectively, in driving the gate lines of the LCD panel 2. The powersupply voltage GVSS is a negative voltage.

The liquid crystal driving circuit 47 drives the data lines and gatelines of the LCD panel 2. In this embodiment, the liquid crystal drivingcircuit 47 uses the power supply voltages GVDD and GVSS when driving thegate lines. When a certain gate line is selected (that is, when pixelsconnected to the gate line is driven), the selected gate line is pulledup to the power supply voltage GVDD. On the other hand, unselected gatelines are pulled down to the power supply voltage GVSS.

In this embodiment, one of the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2 is used as amaster driver which supplies the referential clock signal RCLK, thehorizontal synchronization signal HSYNC and the vertical synchronizationsignal VSYNC, and the other is operated as a slave driver which operatesin synchronization with the referential clock signal RCLK, thehorizontal synchronization signal HSYNC and the vertical synchronizationsignal VSYNC, which are supplied from the master driver. FIG. 6illustrates the configurations in the case when the driver IC 4-1 isoperated as the master driver, and the driver IC 4-2 is operated as theslave driver. The referential clock signal RCLK, the horizontalsynchronization signal HSYNC and the vertical synchronization signalVSYNC, which are generated by the driver IC 4-1 operating as the masterdriver, are supplied to an RCLK line 48, an HSYNC line 49 and a VSYNCline 50, respectively. The RCLK line 48, the HSYNC line 49 and the VSYNCline 50 are connected to the inputs of the power supply activationsequencers 45 in the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2 and the referential clocksignal RCLK, the horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC and thevertical synchronization signal VSYNC are supplied to the power supplyactivation sequencers 45 in the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2 via the RCLK line48, the HSYNC line 49 and the VSYNC line 50. The power supply activationsequencers 45 controls the operational timings of theliquid-crystal-driving power supply circuits 46 in response to thereferential clock signal RCLK, the horizontal synchronization signalHSYNC and the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration ofthe liquid-crystal-driving power supply circuit 46 integrated in each ofthe driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2. The configuration of theliquid-crystal-driving power supply circuit 46 is similar to theconfiguration of the liquid-crystal-driving power supply circuit 105illustrated in FIG. 2 and includes a boosting circuit 11, a GVDDgenerating circuit 12 and a GVSS generating circuit 13. The boostingcircuit 11 boosts an inner power supply voltage by usingexternally-connected capacitors 31 to 34 to generate the voltages VGHand VGL. Here, the voltage VGL is a negative voltage.

The GVDD generating circuit 12 includes an amplifier 14, a variableresistor element 15, a resistor element 16 and an output switch 17. Thevoltage VGH generated by the boosting circuit 11 is supplied to thepower supply terminal of the amplifier 14 and the amplifier 14 isoperated on the voltage VGH. The referential voltage V_(REF1) issupplied to one input of the amplifier 14, and the connection nodebetween the variable resistor element 15 and the resistor element 16 isconnected to the other input. The amplifier 14 compares the voltage onthe connection node between the variable resistor element 15 and theresistor element 16 with the referential voltage V_(REF1) and outputsthe power supply voltage GVDD from the output thereof. The output switch17 is connected between the output of the amplifier 14 and the groundterminal. The output switch 17 is turned off when theliquid-crystal-driving power supply circuit 46 is in operation, andturned on when the operation of the liquid-crystal-driving power supplycircuit 46 is stopped.

The outputs of the GVDD generating circuits 12 in the driver ICs 4-1 and4-2, that is, the outputs of the amplifiers 14 are electricallyconnected to each other via a GVDD power supply line 6. A power supplycapacitor 8 is connected to the GVDD power supply line 6.

Similarly, the GVSS generating circuit 13 includes an amplifier 18, avariable resistor element 19, a resistor element 20 and an output switch21. The voltage VGL generated by the boosting circuit 11 is supplied tothe power supply terminal of the amplifier 18 and the amplifier 18 isoperated on the voltage VGL. The referential voltage V_(REF2) issupplied to one input of the amplifier 18, and the connection nodebetween the variable resistor element 19 and the resistor element 20 isconnected to the other input. The amplifier 18 compares the voltage onthe connection node between the variable resistor element 19 and theresistor element 20 with the referential voltage V_(REF2) and outputsthe power supply voltage GVSS from the output thereof. The output switch21 is connected between the output of the amplifier 18 and the groundterminal. The output switch 21 is turned off when theliquid-crystal-driving power supply circuit 46 is in operation, andturned on when the operation of the liquid-crystal-driving power supplycircuit 46 is stopped.

The outputs of the GVSS generating circuits 13 in the driver ICs 4-1 and4-2, that is, the outputs of the amplifiers 18 are electricallyconnected to each other via a GVSS power supply line 7. A power supplycapacitor 9 is connected to the GVSS power supply line 7.

In the following, a description is given of exemplary operations of thedriver ICs 4-1 and 4-2 in this embodiment. In this embodiment, thedriver ICs 4-1 and 4-2 are both adapted to a sleep mode. When the driverICs 4-1 and 4-2 are placed into the sleep mode, only minimum circuitsare operated in the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2. In detail, when the driverICs 4-1 and 4-2 are placed into the sleep mode, the operations of thetiming generation circuit 44, the liquid-crystal-driving power supplycircuit 46 and the liquid crystal driving circuit 47 are stopped, andonly the interface circuit 41, the register circuit 42, the oscillationcircuit 43 and the power supply activation sequencer 45 are placed intooperation.

When sleep-out commands are supplied to the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2 whilethe driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2 are set to the sleep mode, the driver ICs 4-1and 4-2 operate to get out of the sleep mode. In detail, when thesleep-out command is supplied, the timing generation circuit 44 in thedriver IC 4-1, which operates as the master driver, starts supplying thereferential clock signal RCLK and the horizontal synchronization signalHSYNC. As mentioned above, the referential clock signal RCLK and thehorizontal synchronization signal HSYNC, which are generated by thedriver IC 4-1 operating as the master driver, are supplied to the powersupply activation sequencers 45 in both of the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2.

After an elapse of a sufficiently long waiting time from the supply ofthe sleep-out command, the timing generation circuit 44 in the driver ICdriver IC 4-1, which operates as the master driver, starts supplying thevertical synchronization signal VSYNC. The waiting time from the supplyof the sleep-out command to the start of the supply of the verticalsynchronization signal VSYNC is set sufficiently longer than thepossible difference between the timings when the sleep-out commands aresupplied to the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2, respectively. In one embodiment,the waiting time from the supply of the sleep-out command to the startof the supply of the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC is set to oneframe period (that is, one cycle period of the vertical synchronizationsignal VSYNC) or more. In this case, the period corresponding to oneframe period is reserved as a power supply activation adjustment periodafter the sleep-out command is received. Then, the supply of thevertical synchronization signal VSYNC is started after the power supplyactivation adjustment period elapses.

After the sleep-out commands are supplied, the power supply activationsequencers 45 in both of the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2 activate theliquid-crystal-driving power supply circuits 46 in synchronization withthe pulse that firstly appears in the vertical synchronization signalVSYNC. When the activation of the liquid-crystal-driving power supplycircuit 46 is started, the output switches 17 and 21 are switched fromthe on-state to the off-state. Moreover, the boosting operation of theboosting circuit 11 is started, and the voltages VGH and VGL start to besupplied to the amplifiers 14 and 18, respectively. The amplifiers 14and 18 receive the voltages VGH and VGL and starts outputting the powersupply voltages GVDD and GVSS, respectively.

The above-described operation effectively suppresses generation of anovercurrent even if the timings when the sleep-out commands are suppliedto the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2, respectively, are different; in theabove-described operation, the activations of the liquid-crystal-drivingpower supply circuits 46 in the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2 are started atclose timings.

First, FIG. 8 is a timing chart illustrating the operations of thedriver ICs 4-1 and 4-2 in the case when the timing when the sleep-outcommand is supplied to the driver IC 4-2, which operates as the slavedriver, is later by a delay time T_(D1) than the timing when thesleep-out command is supplied to the driver IC 4-1, which operates asthe master driver.

A reset pulse 51 is first supplied to the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2 overthe reset signal RESX. When a sleep-out command 52-1 is then supplied tothe driver IC 4-1, which operates as the master driver, the timinggeneration circuit 44 in the driver IC 4-1 starts supplying thereferential clock signal RCLK and then starts supplying the horizontalsynchronization signal HSYNC. The referential clock signal RCLK and thehorizontal synchronization signal HSYNC, which are generated by thetiming generation circuit 44 in the driver IC 4-1, are supplied to thepower supply activation sequencers 45 in both of the driver ICs 4-1 and4-2.

Subsequently, after an elapse of a sufficient waiting time, that is,after an elapse of the power supply activation adjustment period whichstarts after the driver IC 4-1 receives the sleep-out command 52-1, thetiming generation circuit 44 in the driver IC 4-1 starts supplying thevertical synchronization signal VSYNC. In FIG. 8, the power supplyactivation adjustment period is denoted by the symbol “1F”. Note thatthe power supply activation adjustment period has a time durationcorresponding to one frame period. The vertical synchronization signalVSYNC generated by the timing generation circuit 44 in the driver IC 4-1is supplied to the power supply activation sequencers 45 in both of thedriver ICs 4-1 and 4-2. The power supply activation sequencer 45 in thedriver IC 4-1 starts activation of the liquid-crystal-driving powersupply circuit 46 in response to the first pulse of the verticalsynchronization signal VSYNC.

Is should be noted that, when the waiting time from the supply of thesleep-out command 52-1 to the driver IC 4-1 to the start of the supplyof the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC is sufficiently long, thesleep-out command 52-2 is supplied to the driver IC 4-2 before thesupply of the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC is started. In thiscase, the power supply activation sequencer 45 in the driver IC 4-2 alsostarts activation of the liquid-crystal-driving power supply circuit 46in response to the first pulse of the vertical synchronization signalVSYNC. Accordingly, the power supply activation sequencers 45 in thedriver ICs 4-1 and 4-2 start the activations of theliquid-crystal-driving power supply circuits 46 at close timings. Hence,no overcurrent is generated in the liquid-crystal-driving power supplycircuits 46 in the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2.

When the waiting time until the start of the supply of the verticalsynchronization signal VSYNC is set to a time duration of one frameperiod or more, for example, the generation of the overcurrent can besuppressed even if the assumable difference between the timings when thesleep-out commands are respectively supplied to the driver ICs 4-1 and4-2 is half of the time duration of one frame period or less. This is asufficient assumption in practical utilization.

FIG. 9 is, on the other hand, a timing chart illustrating the operationsof the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2 in the case when the timing when thesleep-out command is supplied to the driver IC 4-1, which operates asthe master driver, is later by a delay time T_(D2) than the timing whenthe sleep-out command is supplied to the driver IC 4-2, which operatesas the slave driver.

In this case, after the reset pulse 51 is supplied to the driver ICs 4-1and 4-2 over the reset signal RESX, the sleep-out command 52-2 issupplied to the driver IC 4-2, which operates as the slaver driver. Atthis stage, the referential clock signal RCLK, the horizontalsynchronization signal HSYNC and the vertical synchronization signalVSYNC are not supplied to the driver IC 4-2 yet. Thus, the driver IC 4-2does not operate.

When the sleep-out command 52-2 is then supplied to the driver IC 4-1,which operates as the master driver, the timing generation circuit 44 inthe driver IC 4-1 starts supplying the referential clock signal RCLK andthen starts supplying the horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC. Thereferential clock signal RCLK and the horizontal synchronization signalHSYNC, which are generated by the timing generation circuit 44 in thedriver IC 4-1, are supplied to the power supply activation sequencers 45in both of the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2.

After the elapse of the sufficient waiting time, that is, after theelapse of the power supply activation adjustment period which startsafter the driver IC 4-1 receives the sleep-out command 52-1, the timinggeneration circuit 44 in the driver IC 4-1 then starts supplying thevertical synchronization signal VSYNC. The vertical synchronizationsignal VSYNC generated by the timing generation circuit 44 in the driverIC 4-1 is supplied to the power supply activation sequencers 45 in bothof the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2. The power supply activation sequencers 45in both of the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2 start activations of theliquid-crystal-driving power supply circuits 46 in response to the firstpulse of the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC. As a result, thepower supply activation sequencers 45 in the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2start activations the liquid-crystal-driving power supply circuits 46 atclose timings. Accordingly, no overcurrent is generated in theliquid-crystal-driving power supply circuits 46 in the driver ICs 4-1and 4-2.

As discussed above, in this embodiment, the power supply activationsequencers 45 in both of the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2, start activationsof the liquid-crystal-driving power supply circuits 46 after receivingthe sleep-out commands, in synchronization with the start of the supplyof the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC (that is, insynchronization with the first pulse). In this operation, the verticalsynchronization signal VSYNC is supplied from the timing generationcircuit 44 in the driver IC 4-1, which operates as the master driver, tothe power supply activation sequencers 45 in both of the driver ICs 4-1and 4-2. In addition, the timing generation circuit 44 in the driver IC4-1 is configured to start supplying the vertical synchronization signalVSYNC, after the elapse of the sufficient long waiting time from thereception of the sleep-out command.

Such configuration allows the liquid crystal display device in thisembodiment to start activations of the liquid-crystal-driving powersupply circuits 46 in the driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2 at close timings, evenif the timings when the sleep-out command are supplied to the driver ICs4-1 and 4-2, respectively, are different. This effectively suppressesgeneration of an overcurrent.

Although embodiments of the present invention are specifically describedin the above, the present invention should not be construed limitedly tothe above-mentioned embodiments. It would be apparent to the personskilled in the art that the present invention may be implementedtogether with various modifications.

For example, although the liquid crystal display device is described asincluding the two driver ICs 4-1 and 4-2 in the above-describedembodiments, the number of the driver ICs may be three or more. In thiscase, one of the plurality of driver ICs is operated as the masterdriver, and the remaining driver ICs are operated as the slave drivers.

Also, the present invention is not limited to the liquid crystal displaydevice that includes the LCD panel 2; the present invention may begenerally applicable to panel display devices which include a displaypanel.

It should be further noted that the present invention may be generallyapplicable to integrated circuit devices that include a plurality ofintegrated circuits in which the outputs of power supply circuitsintegrated therein are electrically connected to each other. In thiscase, one of the plurality of integrated circuits is selected as amaster device, and the remaining integrated circuits operate as slavedevices. Power supply activation sequencers in the respective integratedcircuits are configured to start activations of the power supplycircuits in synchronization with the start of the supply of asynchronization signal (that is, in synchronization with the first pulseof the synchronization signal), after receiving a sleep-out command.Here, the synchronization signal is supplied from the master device tothe power supply activation sequencers in all of the integratedcircuits. Also, a timing generation circuit in the master device isconfigured to start supplying the synchronization signal, after theelapse of a sufficiently long waiting time, after the supply of thesleep-out command.

What is claimed is:
 1. An integrated circuit device, comprising: a firstintegrated circuit including: a first power supply circuit; a timinggeneration circuit generating a synchronization signal; and a firstpower supply control section controlling operation timing of said firstpower supply circuit; a second integrated circuit including: a secondpower supply circuit; and a second power supply control sectioncontrolling operation timing of said second power supply circuit; and apower supply line electrically connecting outputs of said first andsecond power supply circuits, wherein said first and second integratedcircuits are adapted to a sleep mode, wherein an operation of said firstpower supply circuit is stopped when said first integrated circuit isplaced into the sleep mode, wherein an operation of said second powersupply circuit is stopped when said second integrated circuit is placedinto the sleep mode, wherein said synchronization signal is supplied tosaid first and second power supply control sections, wherein said firstpower supply control section is configured to start the operation ofsaid first power supply circuit in response to a start of a supply ofsaid synchronization signal after a first sleep-out command to get outof the sleep mode is supplied to said first integrated circuit, whereinsaid second power supply control section is configured to start theoperation of said second power supply circuit in response to a start ofa supply of said synchronization signal after a second sleep-out commandto get out of the sleep mode is supplied to said second integratedcircuit, and wherein said timing generation circuit starts supplyingsaid synchronization signal after a predetermined waiting time elapsesafter said first sleep-out command is supplied to said first integratedcircuit.
 2. The integrated circuit device according to claim 1, whereinsaid first power supply circuit includes a first output switch whichconnects the output of said first power supply circuit to a groundterminal when the operation of said first power supply circuit isstopped, and wherein said second power supply circuit includes a secondoutput switch which connects the output of said second power supplycircuit to a ground terminal when the operation of said second powersupply circuit is stopped.
 3. An integrated circuit adapted to a sleepmode, comprising: a power supply circuit; a timing generation circuitgenerating a synchronization signal; and a power supply control sectioncontrolling operation timing of said power supply circuit, wherein anoperation of said power supply circuit is stopped when said integratedcircuit is placed into the sleep mode, wherein said power supply controlsection is configured to start the operation of said power supplycircuit in response to a start of a supply of said synchronizationsignal after a sleep-out command to get out of the sleep mode issupplied to said integrated circuit, and wherein said timing generationcircuit starts supplying said synchronization signal after apredetermined waiting time elapses after said sleep-out command issupplied to said integrated circuit.
 4. The integrated circuit accordingto claim 3, wherein said power supply circuit includes an output switchwhich connects the output of said power supply circuit to agroundterminal when the operation of said power supply circuit is stopped. 5.A panel display device, comprising: a display panel; first and seconddrivers driving said display panel; and a power supply line, whereinsaid first driver includes: a first power supply circuit; a timinggeneration circuit generating a vertical synchronization signal; and afirst power supply control section controlling operation timing of saidfirst power supply circuit; wherein said second driver includes: asecond power supply circuit; and a second power supply control sectioncontrolling operation timing of said second power supply circuit;wherein said power supply line electrically connects outputs of saidfirst and second power supply circuits, wherein said first and seconddrivers are adapted to a sleep mode, wherein an operation of said firstpower supply circuit is stopped when said first driver is placed intothe sleep mode, wherein an operation of said second power supply circuitis stopped when said second driver is placed into the sleep mode,wherein said vertical synchronization signal is supplied to said firstand second power supply control sections, wherein said first powersupply control section is configured to start the operation of saidfirst power supply circuit in response to a start of a supply of saidvertical synchronization signal after a first sleep-out command to getout of the sleep mode is supplied to said first driver, wherein saidsecond power supply control section is configured to start the operationof said second power supply circuit in response to a start of a supplyof said vertical synchronization signal after a second sleep-out commandto get out of the sleep mode is supplied to said second driver, whereinsaid timing generation circuit starts supplying said synchronizationsignal after a predetermined waiting time elapses after said firstsleep-out command is supplied to said first driver.
 6. The panel displaydevice according to claim 5, wherein a time duration of saidpredetermined waiting time is equal to or longer than a time duration ofone frame period defined as a cycle period of said verticalsynchronization signal.
 7. The panel display device according to claim5, wherein said first power supply circuit includes a first outputswitch which connects the output of said first power supply circuit to aground terminal when the operation of said first power supply circuit isstopped, and wherein said second power supply circuit includes a secondoutput switch which connects the output of said second power supplycircuit to a ground terminal when the operation of said second powersupply circuit is stopped.
 8. The panel display device according toclaim 5, wherein said first driver includes a first driving circuitoperating on a first power supply voltage outputted from said firstpower supply circuit to drive said display panel, and wherein saidsecond driver includes a second driving circuit operating on a secondpower supply voltage outputted from said second power supply circuit todrive said display panel.
 9. A display panel driver configured to drivea display panel and adapted to a sleep mode, comprising: a power supplycircuit; a timing generation circuit generating a verticalsynchronization signal, and a power supply control section controllingoperation timing of said power supply circuit, wherein an operation ofsaid power supply circuit is stopped when said display panel driver isplaced into the sleep mode, wherein said vertical synchronization signalis supplied to said power supply control section, wherein said powersupply control section is configured to start the operation of saidpower supply circuit in response to a start of a supply of said verticalsynchronization signal after a sleep-out command to get out of the sleepmode is supplied to said display panel driver, wherein said timinggeneration circuit starts supplying said synchronization signal after apredetermined waiting time elapses after said sleep-out command issupplied to said display panel driver.
 10. The display panel driveraccording to claim 9, wherein a time duration of said predeterminedwaiting time is equal to or longer than a time duration of one frameperiod defined as a cycle period of said vertical synchronizationsignal.